Fears and Births

Chapter 23: Fear and Births

Severus staggered to the private quarters to check on Rosie. He prayed that she was safe in bed sleeping without a worry. His staggering turned into a run and he bolted to his room. He didn't want to talk to Dumbledore or anyone. Upon reaching his room, he found Rosie sleeping peacefully and he sank to his knees. Rosie was still safe and in peace. Her gentle hand rested on her stomach and she had a soft smile on her face. He went to her bedside and rested his hand on her cheek, thanking any god of any religion that she was safe. Softly, he rested his forehead on hers and closed his eyes like he was trying to get telepathy with her.

Her fingers caressed his cheek and he knew she was awake. When he pulled back to look at her, she had a warm smile on her face and her eyes were full of warmth and love. He bent in again and gave her a kiss. At that he rested both hands on either side of her face and pulled her closer for the kiss. Her gentle hands rested on his waist and she pulled into the bed with astounding strength. Severus was slightly surprised that a woman in her condition had that much strength to pull him down in bed.

Recovering from the slight shock of being pulled down, Severus began gently caressing her soft cheek. He loved to feel her soft skin and to know that she was his. A hand gingerly, tenderly, rested on her stomach and felt a kick on his palm. The baby was living in the moment too. It had a sharp kick too, noted Severus. Definitely a girl.

"Do you know the gender of Junior here?" he asked finally, gesturing to her stomach.

"It's a girl, Sev," she said with a smile. "Poppy came by this morning and you should have seen how she went off at me when I was cleaning. 'Rosie, get back to bed. You need bed rest. Rosie, no watering the plants.' And yadda, yadda, yadda. I swear, that woman lives to nag someone, even if she's being reasonable."

"I may have told her to pay you extra close attention," said Severus, a teasing glow in his eyes.

"Severus, you are horrible," said Rosie, beginning to laugh as she half-heartedly hit his arm. "Thanks to you, the woman won't leave me alone for five minutes. I can't even shower without her standing in the bathroom rambling about how most professors should go home on the pregnancy leave. I told her Hogwarts was my home with all the people I love—you and Harry in particular."

Severus lay down beside her and wrapped her in an embrace. "Do you feel anything like a contraction or something?" he asked, concerned for her well-being.

"Poppy told me that they baby might come any day now," replied Rosie softly. "I just hope not too soon because I have some things to be done."

"Name it," said Severus. "I'll do them for you."

"I'm worried about Draco and Harry. Draco has been looking rather ill and tired all year and Harry has been looking a bit peaky. I don't know if he's having dreams again or something else maybe. Can you watch over them carefully to see how their behavior outside class? It's nearly my time and I get really watch them secretly because of the big stomach and I can't run like I used to."

"Worry not," said Severus gently, "I'll keep an eye on them."

"Try to be nice to Harry, though," said Rosie, arching an eyebrow.

"I'll try," said Severus, "but no promises."

She laughed and she rolled into a comfortable position to sleep.

…

Severus watched Rosie sleep with tears stinging in his eyes. Most of them were of thankfulness and happiness that she was still alive. He now cherished the thought of being beside her through thick and thin. His fingers gently trailed down her face and he saw how peaceful she looked. She was the proof of peace, to him, and of light and love. She made him forget of all the wrongs he did in the past and he loved her for it. The only thing that wouldn't erase, though, was the God-awful Dark Mark that was carved in his wrist. That ugly mark gave anything away and it made him regret what he had done to poor, innocent people. He killed people. He hurt people. And worst of all, he couldn't express how he felt about it because he wasn't sure of talking about it.

Rosie made an unintelligible sound and resumed sleeping peacefully. Severus finally closed his eyes and nestled up next to her. The only thing that feared him the most now was the Dark Lord's intelligence on her and the baby. He couldn't bring himself to tell her because it would scare her to death. Before thinking another thought, Severus drifted off to sleep.

…

An awful gasping sound roused Severus and he awoke at once. He saw Rosie gasping and twitching like she was in pain. It wasn't until then he noticed that the bed was wet. Oh, shit, cursed Severus mentally, but he managed to look calm for Rosie's sake. "Rosie, what's wrong?" he asked softly.

"My water broke," she gasped. "Could you hurry for Minerva and Poppy please?"

Severus stood at once, wrapping his robe around him. "Do you need anything else?" he asked. "Like a blanket or a washcloth for your brow?"

"No," she gasped painfully. "Just hurry up. I feel another contraction."

Severus ran out of the room to find Poppy first and to tell her of what was going on. Knowing her, she would be in the Hospital Wing. He ran up flights of stairs and got to the infirmary doors. He flung them open and charged in to see Poppy rushing out in her night clothes. She looked rather surprised and anxious to see him there.

"Whatever is the matter, Severus?" she asked.

"Rosie needs you," he answered. "Her water broke."

Poppy said an unladylike word and ran to grab her kit. "Do you want me to Floo Minerva?"

"I was going to run to get her, but that would help." Severus's mind began to wander to Rosie and her condition.

"Minerva, a word," said Poppy, throwing a handful of Floo powder at the fireplace.

Minerva and Albus came out looking quite bewildered. "Whatever is the problem, Severus?" asked Minerva.

"Rosie's water broke," said Severus frantically. "She requested you two to be there. The baby's coming. There's not time to lose."

All the three older professors ran faster than Severus thought possible and they accompanied him down to where his and Rosie's quarters were. The four woke paintings and attracted ghosts' attention with all the noise they were making but they didn't care. All that mattered was the safety of Rosie and the baby. Upon arriving, they saw Rosie in bed being as calm as she could be. Poppy and Minerva went straight to work.

Minerva rested her hand on Rosie's forehead comfortingly and stood at her side. "We're here, dear," said Minerva in the most tender tone Severus has never heard. "Easy, Rosie. Poppy, let's go."

Poppy stood and went to where Rosie's spread legs were. "Alright, lovely, start taking big pushes, okay?"

Rosie nodded and began to push with all her might. She began crying and groaning in pain. The grip she had on Severus's hand almost made his hand turn blue. He saw her crying and sweating and he had never been so proud of her in his life. She was trying so hard to get the baby out. He took a washcloth from a smiling Albus and rested it on her forehead. He bent forward and began whispering reassurances to her.

"This is the big one, Rosie," said Poppy after all the blood, sweat, and tears. "I see the baby's head. Come on, girl."

Rosie gave a big push and finally the baby came out. Severus thought she resembled a little alien but much more beautiful. Little mews began to escape from the little baby and she began crying. Tears of joy began to course down Severus's face at the sight of his new baby. She looked just as beautiful as her mother. Rosie looked happy if not rather tired from all the pushing and work. He took her hand and smiled at her. She gave him a weary smile and he pressed a gentle kiss to her sweaty brow.

After the baby got clean, she was placed in Rosie's arms. The little pink blanket had her bundled up. Just as Severus expected, she had big green eyes like her mother and dark hair like her father. He had never felt as happy as he did right now. There were no words to describe his happiness.

"Thank you," said Severus to Poppy, Albus, and Minerva.

"You are very welcome, dear boy," they all said at once.

"Do you have any names for her yet?" asked Minerva, gazing at Rosie and the baby tenderly.

Rosie nodded. "Yes," she said. "Lily Minerva Snape. Minerva, you proved to us that you're the best and you're as good as it's gonna get." A sleepy smile spread on Rosie's face.

A tear found its way on Minerva's cheek as she went to embrace the new mother and baby. "Thank you, dear."

After a while, the three finally left and Severus sat next to his wife in an armchair. He held the baby in his arms and kissed her sweet face gently. Rosie smiled before going to sleep. Severus knew she was spent because she nursed the baby and had her. Lily fell asleep in his arms and he held her gently. If he could produce the world's biggest Patronus, this was the moment he would.

A/N: Read and Review! The next chapter is when things start to get heavy with the dark arts and crap. Be prepared for angst!